Electric controlling device.



Bram AVAIL-Am: COP? H. w. LEONARD. ELEOTBIG CONTROLLING DEVICE. APPLIOATION I'ILEQ'OOT. 23, 1908.

1,042,- 1 30. Patented Oct. 22,1912.

. m -lwimm UNITED srrn'rns PATENT oFF oE.

' HARRY WARD LEONARD, F BRONXVILLE, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC CONTROLLING DEVIC E. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Original application filed May 13, 1905, Serial No. 260,198. Divided and this application filed October 23,

1908. Serial No. 459,180.

lo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY VARD LEON- ARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bronxville, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in E lec tric Controlling Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

motor armature, or other translating device,

these results, I embody in combination va-. rious important features among which the following may here be referred to. I provide means for automatically protecting the upon the occurrence of no-voltage or low volt: go. I In my preferred form the no-voltage device is an electro-magnetic device responsive solely to the voltage to which the motor armature may be sub ected, and which is independent of the current-in the motor armature or field winding. I also provide means for automatically rotecting the motor armature against a normally large currents. In my overload protective device is in the form of an electromagnetic circuit breaker, 'so' functionally related to the circuit to be protected, that the circuit breaker is always in.

I a protective condition, regardless of the con dition or position of other devices affecting the device to be protected. 1 also provide rheostatic means for controlling theflow of In my preferred form, the resistance controlling arm or device, is so functionally related. to the overload device, that a protective amount of resistance must be in the path of the circuit to be established before the circuit, can be closed by closing the overload device or otherwise. In my preferred form, the circuit can be opened by the resistance controlling arm. In order to reduce the are, which is formed when the circuit' is opened either by preferred form this the resistance controlling arm or by the circuit breaker, to a minimum amount and thus practically eliminate its destructive effect, 1 provide efiicient arc-rupturing means. This is preferably an auxiliary, automatically, quick acting switch by which the circuit is finally broken and which acts quickly independently of the slowness'of'movement of the part breaking the. circuit, such as the resistance controlling arm. I also preferably provide a magnetic blow-out which produces a strong magnetic field at the point, or points, where the circuitis finally broken and so reduce the are formed to its minimum amount. I may provideeither the resistance controlling means, or the overload device, or both, with such protective means, and in my preferred form both such parts are thus protected. I also provide means which automatically acts to quickly and efliciently close the circuit, independently of the slowness of movement of the operators hand, when he performs the'acts necessary to close the circuit. This will prevent-the.-

operatorfnom making an improper -orinsuflicient contact in closing the circult. The

Patented o r. 22,1912.

circuit connections of the armature and field. of the motor are such as to always keep the armature and field windings in a closed circuit so as to avoid any detrimental effect due to the inductive discharge of the field.

My Invention will be understood by r'eference to the accompanying drawings'taken in connection withthe following description.

Figure 1 is face view of one form of construction: nbo'dying my invention; Fig. of the reversing switch; and Fig. rspective view of said switch. ,The controlling and protective devices are preferably mounted upon a panel of insulating material, such as slate, and are thus all united into one complete unit. At the top of Fig. 1 are indicated the supply wires. Protective fuses of the inclosed type are indicated at 2. The supply wires are connected directly to these fuses, which act after a certain time interval and thus protect theniotor and all parts on the panel. from overload currents and serve as a protective means in addition to the electromagnet circuit breaker in case the latter should fail to act. The reversing switch. is connected in the main circuit which opens both poles of the supply circuit. The rheostatcontacts .of the motor starter shown in this figure are indicated at 4, and I preferably mount the starting resistance on the back of the panel.

The movable starting arm is shown at 5, its outer end moving over the contacts 4 The arm 5 is arranged to open the circuit when in th'e oti posit-ion on the insulating strip or blind contact 10. In order to obtain a quick break of the circuit .in the presence of a strong magnetic field, I mount upon the panel adjacent to the initial resistance contact an iron clad magnet 11, shown more in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 of my above referred to original application. Fixed to the face of the magnet and extending between the central core and a protecting portion of the top of the shell, is a non-magnetic contact piece 13, preferably of copper. This is thus located in the path of an intense magnetic field from the end of the core to the top portion of the shell and any rupture of circuit taking place in the contact piece Will be in the presence of a strong magnetic field, giving an etficient magnetic blow-out.

The controlling arm carries the auxiliary contact piece 15 which is movably mounted upon the arm and electrically connected thereto by a flexible connection, this con struction being more fully described in my said original application. If the controlling arm is moved to ofi position, the auxiliary contact will engage the contact 13 before contact is broken at the initial resistance contact. As the movement is continued, the

electrical connection will be broken with the 2 initial resistance contact, and the piece 15 will be deflected by engaging'the side of contact 13. Upon further movement, the piece 15 will move over the face of the contact l3, and when the contact is finally broken, the auxiliary contact 15 will be rapidly thrown away from 13 by a spring whichalways tends to return the auxiliary contact from a deflected position. The final rupture of the circuit will, therefore, take place in a strong magnetic field and with a very quick action. I urthermore, the parts which are subjected to wear or deterioration are readily replaceable in a simple manner.

In order to avoid the objectionable ett'ects of a slow or insufficient closing of the Cir cuit, I provide means for a quick make indicated by the part. 19, the construction and operation thereof being described in my said original application.

In the final position of the arm the novi'iltage, or low voltage magnet 21, will retain the arm in placeby attracting the armature 22 pivoted to said arm. In the final position the auxiliary contact 15 will engage a post, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of my original application, and cause the field connections to be connected across the supply line independently of the armature resistance. j

in additiqn to the controlling arm 5, I

have provided an arm 24 pivot-ed 0n the same pivot with arm 5 and coupled thereto by spiral spring within the hub on arm actuated by a spring so as to cause the latch to engage the pin on the side of arm 24.

The arm 24 carries a contact which in closed position engages'a fixed contact at the left of the magnet coil 26 and which fixed contact is electrically connected to a terminal of coil'26. An extensionof arm 24 carries an auxiliary contact 15 similar to that carried by arm 5 and which acts in conjunction with a. blow-out magnet similar to that above de- .scribed. In this case the auxiliary quick break with magnetic blow-out will act to break the circuit; that is, when the arm is released, due to the overload current, contact between the main contacts is first broken. The auxiliary contact 15 is deflected in the meanwhile and, after the main contact is broken, the auxiliary contact will be broken with a quick action in the presence of a strong magnetic field.

After the circuit is opened by the overload device, the overload switch is closed only by movement of the controlling arm 5. This is accomplished by means of arm 5 or a projection thereof engaging the arm 24 and forcing it to the closed position. This necessitates a returning of the starting arm to its initial open circuit position and, in starting again, the circuit will be closed by the starting arm in the manner above described The starting arm will, therefore, always be in a protective position when the circuit is closed.

The supply line is connected to the fuses 2 and current passes from them to the main switch. One line from this switch passes to the overload coil 26, and thence through the main contacts to arm 24 when the latter is in operative position. Current also passes in another path to (his-arm from the same line, through the coil of the blow-out magnet 11 and auxiliary contacts. The arm 5 is in electrical connection with arm 24. The other line from the main switch passes to the armature A of the motor, and thenceto the final resistance contact, and then through the resistances to the coil of the magnetic blow-out 11. Thus when the arm is moved to start the motor after the overload switch is closed, the circuit will first be closed across the line by the quick make of the auxiliary contact on arm5, and continued movement of the arm will cut out the armature resistance andbri'ng the motor up to speed. The field winding F of the motor is shown as a shunt winding and is connectedfrom one side of the supply lineto the blow out coilll to the. arm 5, or to the initial resistance contact. The circuit through the field from the supply line is, therefore, closed when the armature is connected to the supply line. The no-voltage magnet 21 is connected from one side of the supply line through a resistance 36 to the other side of the supply line through the main switch. When its circuit is closed, the no-voltage magnet will, therefore, be connected across the line in a circuit independent of the armature or field winding, and will therefore act independently of such windings and cannot be subjected to any dangerously high electromotive force due to field discharge voltage.

By the construction shown and described herein, a reversal of the motor is obtainable,

all parts are protected from sparking, and protection tothe circuit is always secured. The main switch is a double throw switch having four switch blades 74 in this instance,

v which cooperate with four contacts 7& when thrown in one direction, and with four contacts (4 when thrown 1n the opposite direction. Of these contacts, one of each set,

namely 74, is provided with shorter contact clips than the others as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and these shorter clips are connected in the circuit of the no-voltage magnet 21.

In operation, the switch blades 74 will be thrown to engage say the upper set of contacts. The circuit breaker arm will be closed by means of the resistance controlling arm and the circuit will be finally closed by means of the resistance arm. Current will then pass from one sideof the line through the left-hand switch blade to the left-hand contact 74 through the overload coil 26, overload switch, arm 5, armature resistance,

to third switch blade 74 from the left,

throughthe armature A, to fourth switch blade, to the other side of the line. The field F is connected across the line from the initial resistance contact to the other side of the line. 'llhe'resistance arm will be held in final positionby the magnet 21 which is connected across the line in an independent circuit, current passing from the second switch blade, to the short contact 74, through magnet'2l and resistance 36 to the other side of circuit through the starting resistance and any objectionable effect of inductive discharge of the field will be overcome. Consequently when the double throw switch is opened to break the remaining contacts, the

only circuit to be broken will be this closed,

circuit of field and armature and-as the current therein will be very slight cr practically absent, there will be no sparking at the switch contacts. On throwing the double throw switch to engage the lower contacts, the connections will, be similar to those above described except that the current through the armature will be reversed,

which will reverse the rotation of the arma ture. In raising the reversing switch from the lower contacts, the circuit of the novoltage magnet will first be broken as above explained and no sparking takes place at the main switch contacts. It will be observed by this construction that all burning of the contacts of the knife blade switch 74 will be avoided as this switch is closed only under conditions of open circuit and is opened only while the insignificant field current is flowing through it.

Although I have described various modified forms of construction it will be understood that my invention is not restricted to the various forms described, and that I am limited only as indicated by the following claims.

Instead of mounting the quickly movable auxiliary contact on the movable element and the coiiperating contact, or magnetic blow-out, in a fixed position, these parts,

may be reversed in position in some cases.

Having thus described my invention what I declare as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination of. an electric motor,

two switches in series with the armature of said motor, one of said switches being a reversing switch for reversing the current in one element of said motor, and means whereby the openingmovement of one of said switches first causes the opening of the circuit at the other side before opening the circuit at its own contacts, the movement of one of said switches being mechanically independent of the other of said switches. 2. The combination of an electric motor, two circuit controlling movable elements in series with each other and with the motor armature, one of said switches being a reversing switch for reversing the current in one element of said motor, an electroresponsive device for. normally restraining one of said elements, and means whereby the movement of the other element deilncrgizes said electroresponsive device causing automatic movement of said restrained element, and then by further movement of the said other element controls the motor armature circuit elsewhere.

3. The combination of a translating device, two circuit controlling movable elements in series with each other and with said device, one of said elements being a reversing switch for reversing the current through said device, an elcctroresponsive device for normally holding one of said elements in a certain position, means for causing the automatic movement of said element when said electroresponsive device is denergized, and means whereby the movement of the other element first deenergizes said electroresponsive device to cause the automatic movement of the element-normally held by said device and then by its further movement controls the circuit elsewhere.

4. The combination of an electric'motor, two switches in series with each other and with the motor armature, one of said 0 switches being a resistance controlling switch automatically responsive to no volt age, and the other of said switches being adapted when moved to first cause the automatic opening of the first switch and then to open the circuit at its own contacts.

5. The combination of an automatic re-.

sistanceicontrolling switch and a non-automatic switch in series with each other, means whereby the movement of the latter switch causes the automatic opening of the circuit at the first named switch and then opens the circuit at its own contacts.

6. The co bination of a manually and automatically movable circuit controlling element automatically responsive to no voltage, a hand-o erated switch in series with said element For reversing the circuit conmotion, and means whereby said element is responsive to the manual movement of said 4o switch.

7. The combination of a reversing switch comprising two rigidly connected movable contact elements, automatic circuit control- ,ling means, and means whereby the movementof said switch causes the automatic movement of said means before said reversing switch opens the circuit at its own circuit contacts.

8. The combination of an electric motor,

I three switches in series with each other and with the motor armature, one of said switches being a resistance controlling switch provided with an electro-responsive winding controlling its automatic opening, and one of said switches being adapted when moved to first operatively control said winding andthereby cause the automatic opening of the switch controlled thereby, and then by furthermovement to open the cirv6 cuit at its'own contacts.

9. The combination of a current carrying movable element adapted to be moved without breaking the circuitwith which said element is connected and then by a further movement to break said circuit and to make the circuit connections inthe reverse sense,

a second element for also controlling said circuit, and means controlled by the movement of said first named element prior to breaking its circuit connection for automatically controlling the movement of said .sec- 0nd element.

10. The combination of a movablev circuit controlling element,an automatic overload switch, a second switch, and means for causing said element to be automatically responsive to no voltage, to "the automatic opening of the circuit by said overload" switch, and to the movement of-said second switch before the latter opens its main contacts.

11. The combination of a movable circuit controlling element, means comprising an electro-responsive winding responsive to novoltage for cont-rolling said element, a 5' switch in series with said element, andmeans associated with said switch whereby the initial movement of said switch denergize's said no voltage. winding and whose, later?! movement opens a circuit in which said ele 9 4 ment is connected. Y

12. The combination of an .electricmotor', a no voltage starting device a reversing switch, said device and switch being connected in series with each other and with the motor armature, and meansfor-causing the automatic opening of the circuit at the, no voltage starting device when the movable' element of the reversing switch is moved.to reverse position and prior to the opening of the circuit at said reversing switch. I

13. The combination of tin-electric motor, a reversing switch, an automatically openable switch, said switches being in series with each other and with the motorarmature, and means for insuring the automatic opening of the circuit at the automatic switch when the movable element of the reversing switch is moved so as to reverse the circuit. connections and prior to the opening 11);

of the circuit at said reversing switch.

14. The combination of a motor havin a field winding energized independently of Its; armature current, a reversing switch there,

for comprising a unitary movable current 11$,

carrying switch element, a no-voltage switch in series with the armature ofsaid motor,

and electrical means protectively relating said latter switch and said element as to the 7 sequence of their opening when the op tor- 3.20 opens said reversing switch. x .15. The combination of an electric 'motor,.. an automatically 0 enable switch. a menu-1 ally openable switc i, said switches being-in armature, and electricalmeans protectively relating said switches 'wherebyjthe circuit is T always opened first 'at the automatic switch the operator opensJthe saidmanually openahle switch, said means comprising an 1 0 series with each other and with the in'otorelib auxiliary movable switch element rigidly connected with said switch.

16. The combination of an electric motor, a no voltage motor starter comprising a re Y sistance varying movable element, amanual switch in series therewith, and electrical means protectively relating said element and said. switch for insuring the protective movement ot'said element prior to the opening of said manual switch by the operator.

17. The combination of a switch having auxiliary contacts, a second switch in series therewith, and means controlled by the initial movement of said second switch for causing the automatic opening of the circuit at said first switch prior to the opening of said second switch at the main contacts.

1 18. The combination of an electric motor,

,an automatically movable element whose automatic movement protects the circuit, a switch in series therewith and with the motor armature, and electrical means protectively relating said switch and element for insuring the automatic protective movementof said element during the opening movement of said switch and prior to its opening the circuit at its own contacts, said means being dependent upon the movement of said switch.

' 19. The combination with a starting rheostat having a no-voltage magnet, of a reversing switch, and means controlled thereby for deenergizing the said magnet.

20. The combination with a starting rheostathaving a no-voltage magnet connected across the line, of a reversing switch in the motor circuit, and means controlled by the actuation of said switch for deenergizing the said magnet.

21. Thecombination with an electric motor, of a switch in the motor circuit'biased to open position, an electro-responsivedevice for maintaining said switch in the closed position, a reversing switch, and means for decnergizing the said electroresponsive device on the actuation of said reversing switch.

22. The combination with an electric mo tor, of a switch in'the motor circuit biased to open position, an electromagnetic device responsive to no voltage. connected across the line and arranged to maintain/ said switch in the closed position, a revers-' ing-switch, and means for deenergizing the electro-magnetic device by the actuation of the said switch.

In testimony whereof I afiix my-signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY VVABD LEONARD. \Vitnesses:

L. K. SAGER, GEO. A. HOFFMAN. 

